Is it possible for such poppy music to have so much soul? Yes it is. The proof is on Fitz and the Tantrums disc Pickin’ Up the Pieces. The vocal harmonies between Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs is heartfelt and explosive, most notably on the tracks Dear Mr. President and News 4 You. Fitz and the Tantrums show their craftiness by song structure and lyrics, bringing back the lost art of the three minute song. Speaking of lost art, the art of the ballad returns with the final cut entitled Tighter. Throughout this disc the saxophone of James King comes across sultry and dirty. Ethan Philips keeps every track together with intelligent and infectious bass lines.
The hottest song on this disc is the track Moneygrabber. The song begins with a spirited piano that is spiked with melancholy. In the tradition of the Smiths, Fitz and the Tantrums blend dour lyrics with upbeat melody, making especially great use of the horn section. The background vocals are nothing short of nostalgic, as the song takes you for a ride down Motown lane. However Fitz and the Tantrums have taken that Motown sound and made it their own, rather than produce a cheap rip off. The simple melodic thumping of the bass holds the whole track together and lends credence to the saying, sometimes less is more. The lyrics which describe a man who is tired of the materialistic woman he is in a relationship with are straight to the point, simple and direct, yet there is an underlying current of dark sarcastic humor that works brilliantly on this track, “here’s my advice, I don’t think twice for the price of a cheap dime whore”. If you’re looking for something new and progressive that pays tribute to old roots with honor and integrity you’ve just found it with Fitz and the Tantrums.
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